Basic Needs

ICHS, in collaboration with the Indiana Nonprofit Resources Network, hosted a webinar highlighting the bills that passed the Indiana General Assembly this session and the impact on nonprofit organization and their clients. Here is a link to access the webinar slides and audio. ICHS End of Session Webinar 3/20/2014

The Indiana General Assembly passed SB 340, which leads to ending the Energizing Indiana program at the end of 2014. ICHS sent a letter to Governor Pence on March 18th, 2014 requesting that he veto the bill. Some of the concerns presented in the letter were: -Since the inception of the program through January 31 [...]

Highlights of the 2014 Legislative Session In the late evening hours of Thursday, the General Assembly concluded the 2014 Legislative Session. Here are a few of the highlights of bills that ICHS has been following this session: Working Hoosiers: •HB1083 Child labor law and unemployment insurance: Changed unemployment insurance, requiring less burden of proof for [...]

ICHS partners with Indiana Association of United Ways and Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network to bring you three legislative update webinars during the 2014 session of the Indiana General Assembly. Sessions require pre-registration and will be held on Thursdays, 3pmET/2pmCT. Participants receive related documents. All staff and volunteers in human service organizations are invited to register [...]

The Indiana Senate and House have concluded committee meetings and Third Readings. ICHS is now monitoring priority bills that will be assigned to a conference committee for negotiations between the House and Senate versions. Here is an up to date list of priority bills that we will be monitoring the last couple weeks of the [...]

ICHS hosted a Mid-Session Update on February 20th highlighting the human service bills that are moving through the Statehouse. If you were unable to attend the webinar, here is a link to access a recording of the webinar. ICHS partners with Indiana Association of United Ways and Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network to bring you three [...]

Congress has reached a compromise on the long debated Farm bill and both the House and Senate have voted on the final version. There are some cuts included in the bill; however, many good provisions were included. Below is a summary of impact on the Food Stamp program from Feeding America’s Hungry. •$8.55 billion cut [...]

The Indiana General Assembly deadline for cross over of bills was this week. Some key bills related to early childhood education and other education initiatives continue to move forward, while increasing access to healthcare coverage for all Hoosiers by closing the coverage gap is now dead. Here is a link to the most recent update [...]

HB 1351 would implement a drug testing program for TANF recipients and would require the state of Indiana apply for a waiver from the Federal government to only allow healthy food purchases with EBT (food stamp) cards. The original version had a provision requiring photo ID’s to utilize EBT cards at the store for purchases; [...]

On Thursday, January 23rd ICHS, IAUW, and INRN hosted a Session Starter Webinar. Click below to access the materials and archive of that session. ICHS 2014 Session Starter Webinar There are still two legislative update webinars left this session. Register today! ICHS partners with Indiana Association of United Ways and Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network to [...]

ICHS continually monitors legislation that is debated at the Statehouse that will impact low income Hoosiers and their families. Here is a link with the most up to date information regarding ICHS’ top priority bills for the 2014 legislative session. 2014 ICHS Priority Bill Update

The 2013 Legislative Session is officially over and a number of ICHS priorities made the cut, including child care regulations and a focus on quality early childhood, investment in Career Councils to help individuals find jobs, and increased Department of Child Services funding to hire additional caseworkers and call center representatives. The TANF Drug Testing [...]

How do human services fair? The Indiana General Assembly passed a two year budget totaling $30 billion early Saturday morning. There were a number of tax cuts included in the budget bill, with a 5% cut in personal income tax phased in through 2017, a 1% cut to the corporate tax rate, elimination of the [...]

Indiana Coalition Touts Medicaid Expansion By Mike Corbin – mcorbin@wibc.com | @WIBC_MikeCorbin 3/29/2013 The Indiana Coalition for Human Services says Medicaid expansion is the best option to make sure that more than 400,000 Hoosiers get affordable health insurance. ICHS President David Sklar says the move won’t cost the state any additional money. Sklar says the [...]

Over 400,000 uninsured Hoosiers have access to health insurance coverage within their reach; however, they are sitting on the sidelines waiting for the State of Indiana to act. Indiana has a historic opportunity to expand Medicaid coverage for individuals who make under 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). [...]

The State of Indiana recently submitted a waiver application to the Federal government to continue the Healthy Indiana Plan program and to use this program as a method for the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Public input was received by the Indiana Family Social Services Administration on March 20th and March 22nd. [...]

On March 19th, 2013 in the Ways and Means Committee, ICHS testified regarding concerns with SB 559 related to Medicaid Fraud. The major concerns outlined in the testimony were: 1. Section 4 – Retailer fraud and the relationship between State and Federal agencies 2. Section 5– Inconsistent with federal regulations for EBT cards 3. Other [...]

Indiana continues to debate expanding Medicaid to up to 450,000 low-income Hoosiers. It is time for us to show elected officials widespread support for providing health care coverage to those making under 138% of poverty by informing our local media and communities about this opportunity. The time is now to expand Medicaid, so Indiana can [...]

The Indiana General Assembly is currently debating the expansion of Medicaid to cover uninsured Hoosiers. The Federal Affordable Care Act provides significant resources for states to expand Medicaid to cover low-income individuals to ensure they receive affordable and quality healthcare. You can help make Medicaid Expansion a priority by: contacting your elected officials, writing a [...]

On March 13, ICHS testified in the Senate Health committee regarding HB 1483 Drug Testing of Recipients of Assistance. ICHS provided concerns regarding the use of tax dollars to fund drug testing programs that are ineffective and costly. The testimony also expressed concerns with the use of the Written Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory Test [...]

Indiana Coalition for Human Services is pleased to release its ICHS Guide to Safety Net Programs, a short booklet on a few of the human service programs serving low-income Hoosiers. This guide was designed to provide information such as: * How is the program funded? * Who administers the program? * How many Hoosiers and [...]

Your Indiana Coalition for Human Services is active in state legislative interim study committees ICHS provided testimony about the child abuse/neglect hotline and provider concerns in the Committee reviewing the Department of Child Services. See ICHS Testimony on DCS 9/5/12 ICHS worked with partners to coordinate testimony about the value of the State Earned Income Tax [...]

Did you miss the ICHS Annual Meeting on Aug. 22? Or perhaps you want to share the materials with your colleagues? Below are the documents provided about the Federal Budget and Messaging. Feel free to duplicate, as long as you cite your source. * Joan Huffer’s presentation slides, How Attacks on the Federal Safety Net Would Affect [...]

2-1-1 is the easy-to-remember number where nearly 500,000 Hoosiers turned for help last year with job loss, utility assistance, medical conditions, domestic violence, challenges in parenting or caring for an aging relative—and so much. Need help? Call 2-1-1. (available in 79 of Indiana’s 92 counties)